Brennan Announces Staff Updates for Arizona Football Ahead of 2026 Season

TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona Football Head Coach Brent Brennan has announced seven staffing updates for the program as it prepares for the 2026 season, including both promotions and new hires. The changes aim to bolster the coaching staff and support operations as the Wildcats look to build on recent success.

Coaching Promotions

Lyle Moevao has been promoted to Running Backs Coach after working with the group throughout the 2025 season. He previously assisted with the quarterbacks in 2024 and joined the program alongside Coach Brennan from San Jose State. Moevao likewise has coaching experience with Northern Colorado (2020) and the San Antonio Commanders of the AAF (2019), beginning his career with quality control for running backs at Oregon State in 2013. Under his guidance in 2025, Arizona’s running backs collectively gained 1,750 yards and scored 15 touchdowns, contributing to the team’s nine-win season and berth in the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl.

Ronnie Palmer has been elevated to Defensive End/Edge Coach for the 2026 season. The former Wildcat standout returns to an expanded role after joining the program as an Assistant Coach – Defense in 2025, helping Arizona achieve its eighth nine-win season in program history. Palmer was a four-year starter for Arizona from 2005–08, earning Freshman All-America recognition. Before returning to Tucson, he served as Head Coach at Monterey Peninsula College for multiple years, securing four conference championships.

Courtney Detlefsen has been promoted to Assistant Director of Football Operations. A graduate of the University of Arizona and the Eller College of Management, Detlefsen has been with the program as a football operations intern for two seasons. She also gained experience with the Arizona Diamondbacks as a fan experience intern and served as a 2024 NCAA Men’s Final Four Ambassador at State Farm Stadium. Detlefsen was recognized with the Arizona Excellence Scholarship, Dean’s List with Distinction and was nominated as an Eller Scholar of the Year in 2023, also earning a spot on the Eller Top-50 Collegiate Women of the Year list.

New Additions to the Staff

Mike Williams joins the Wildcats as Assistant Coach – Wide Receivers, bringing experience from a two-year stint at Nebraska. He has also coached wide receivers at Luther College (2021) and Nebraska (2023-25). Williams played wide receiver at East Mississippi Community College (2017) and Nebraska (2018-20) before transitioning to coaching.

Andrew Morgan returns to Tucson as Coordinator of College Scouting after spending one season with Idaho as the Vandals Assistant Director of Football Recruiting. Morgan graduated from Arizona with a BA in Psychology and previously worked with Arizona Football in a Player Personnel Student Assistant role for over two years.

Josh Patterson has been named Director of Scouting, coming to Arizona after five-plus years with Oregon State. Most recently, he served as the Oregon State Director of Scouting – Defense, leading defensive scouting and evaluations for high school, junior college, and transfer portal student-athletes, and overseeing defensive recruiting operations.

Lauren Benjamin will serve as Coordinator of Internal Operations. Another University of Arizona and Eller College of Management graduate, Benjamin returns to the Wildcats following a season with the San Francisco 49ers. She graduated from Arizona in May 2025 and previously contributed to the football program as an equipment manager and recruiting operations intern.